How to Keep Your Car Looking New in Winter Weather

Jan 4, 2016

Just as you gear up to fight off the winter chill, it’s also important to make plans to protect your car against the elements. Implementing a little planning and acting on these simple steps can extend the life and looks of your vehicle, in the wintertime and beyond.

Cover Up

It may be convenient, but leaving your car outside to soak up the sun, wind, and rain can dull a paint job over time. If you have access to a garage or carport, don’t be lazy and just leave it in the driveway. Go ahead and pull the car in the garage to park. You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to shovel snow and ice to dig your car out when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Protection Matters

You can protect your car’s “skin” just the same as you would your own–by applying a little balm. Car wax and paint sealants applied over the car’s surface imparts a nice luster while also protecting the paint job from corrosive road salts and dirty snow melt. Don’t forget about your tires. Keep wheel corrosion at bay with wheel coating and an application of tire gel will prevent tires from cracking in the cold.

Scrape Carefully

Use the right tools for the season, such as a snow brush with soft bristles, and be wary of scraping a windshield scraper across paint surfaces, as it may cause damage. In addition, using a windshield wiper fluid that was formulated for wintertime will help keep moisture from freezing. You can also make sure to dust snow and ice off of the hood when you exit the car so that melting run-off won’t freeze on the windshield. Pull your wipers up off of the surface to keep them from freezing to the surface so your scraping isn’t such a chore.

Clean Up

One of the best things you can do to prevent corrosion is to wash your vehicle frequently. You can do this at home, but many people prefer to take their car to a car wash or detailer in the winter months to clean even hard to reach places, like the undercarriage and behind mudflaps. Try to wash your car earlier in the day so there will be time for it to dry without water refreezing on the car. Also, beware of washing in very low temperatures, lest your doors and locks freeze shut.

The Inside Counts

Don’t neglect the interior of your car. One surprising place that breeds corrosion is underfoot, beneath your snowy boots. Melting, dirty snow carries road salt which can soak the vehicle floor mats and sink through to the undercarriage, eventually causing rust. It’s a good idea to invest in fitted plastic floor mats that will easily wipe clean with a towel.

Keep your car clean inside and out in the winter months. If you are vigilant about washing your car and protecting its surfaces, you’ll also protect your car’s beauty and structural integrity in all seasons.

You can also protect your car’s “skin” just the same as you would your own, by applying a little balm. Car wax applied over the surface of the car will not only impart an attractive glow, but will also protect the paint job from corrosive road salts and dirty snow melt.

Photo by John Morton | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0